Releases

Volturian – Crimson Review

Volturian – Crimson Review

By Kenstrosity on April 21, 2020 in 2020, Electronica Metal, Gothic Metal, Italian Metal, Melodic Metal, Pop Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Electronica Metal, Gothic Metal, Melodic Metal, 35 comments

“The brainchild of Frozen Crown’s Federico Mondelli and Sleeping Romance’s Federica Lanna, Volturian prioritizes fun over all. These tunes will get stuck in your head, you will kind of hate that they get stuck in your head, and you will be powerless to stop it if you give it the smallest opening.” Activate earworm lock!

Dark Forest – Oak, Ash & Thorn Review

Dark Forest – Oak, Ash & Thorn Review

By Steel Druhm on April 21, 2020 in 2020, Cruz Del Sur, English Metal, Folk Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal, Reviews, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Power Metal, 66 comments

“U.K.’s Dark Forest has been cranking out high quality music since 2009, with a very interesting blend of Euro-power, traditional heavy metal and just enough folk elements to give them a slightly unique sound. Albums like The Awakening and 2016s Beyond the Veil were very good, teetering on the cusp of greatness, borrowing from NWoBHM legends like Iron Maiden while also dipping into the slick songcraft of Avantasia and prime Sonata Arctica. Their compositional and storytelling acumen improved with each release and I just knew they had a truly big release in them dying to burst free.” Really good wood.

Babylonfall – Collapse Review

Babylonfall – Collapse Review

By Doom_et_Al on April 21, 2020 in 2020, Finnish Metal, Inverse Records, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, 21 comments

“I’ve always maintained you should not be able to eat food off death metal albums. The level of dirt and grime inherent in the recordings complements the themes of death and decay in the music. Even melodeath – the gentler second-cousin twice removed of death metal – shouldn’t sound too clean in my books. Babylonfall, a new group from Finland, arrive with a fair bit of buzz surrounding their debut effort, Collapse. Ostensibly playing a brand of music in the style of latter-Amorphis, these guys hew far more closely to the ‘melo’ rather than the ‘death’ side of things.” Death be not cleanly.

Funeral Leech – Death Meditation Review

Funeral Leech – Death Meditation Review

By Akerblogger on April 20, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“The idea of combining death metal and doom metal is exciting. The viciousness of death metal combined with the depression of the slow an alluring combination for many bands. It’s in a metalhead’s nature – we’re not always angry and we’re not always solemn. Finding a way of unifying death and doom to perfection in a track, an album, is like finding the answer to the great mysteries of existence. Funeral Leech, with their debut release Death Meditation, attempt to merge both.” Some assembly required.

Ripped to Shreds – 亂 (Luan) Review

Ripped to Shreds – 亂 (Luan) Review

By Saunders on April 19, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Death Metal, Pulverised Records, Reviews, Death Metal, 23 comments

“Following a lengthy period of derivative stagnation, old school death in its various, insidious forms has gained significant traction and momentum in recent years. Ripped to Shreds are primed to make their own impression, bringing the heart and hardware on sophomore album 亂 (Luan), beefing up their rising status as a formidable force in the current death metal scene.” Rip roaring.

Shards of Humanity – Cold Logic Review

Shards of Humanity – Cold Logic Review

By Kronos on April 19, 2020 in 2020, American Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Unspeakable Axe Records, Death Metal, 19 comments

“There may not be any band out there that all the Angry Metal Guy staff like. I suppose that’s not surprising once you consider how many writers we have and the heathenous poseurdom among those whose prose is not currently caressing your fovea. Consensus is a tall order for this crew, the kind you only get when work is paying for it. If we really got our shit together to pick a favorite, we performed the kind of rigorous internal study necessary – laproscope and all – it would trigger years of bloody sectarian violence. In the end, even if Iron Maiden emerged atop the highest pedestal, Death would command the most zealous supporters. Since our website is the sole source of metal criticism available, I am forced assume our views are universal. Death-worship bands like Shards of Humanity confirm this.” All hail the new olde Gods.

Megatherium – God Review

Megatherium – God Review

By GardensTale on April 18, 2020 in 2020, Argonauta Records, Doom Metal, Italian Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge, Stoner Metal, 15 comments

“There is one reason and one reason alone why I’m reviewing this album. It’s not the passable art, or the generally nice but fairly uneven roster of sludge and sludge-adjacent bands Argonauta Records have built up. It’s the handle, because Megatherium has to be one of the coolest band names I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Mega deficit.